Pneumatic water-supply system



June 24, 1930. l E; E'MCCARTH'Y] 1,767,542

PNEU'KATIC WATER sUPPLY'sYsTEu Filed July 19,' 1928 Patented June 24, V1930 unrrn stare PATRI- ries EDWARD nIIecAnTIIY, or CHICAGO, ILLINCIs, AssIGNon To CIIICAeo PUMP `Co1vr PANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A ConeonA'rIoN or ILLINOIS IaNnUMA'rICA WATEIVSUPPLY sYsTEivI Application sled July 19, 192s.` serial No, 293,806.

This invention relates topneumaticwater v supply systems, and its principal object is to provide a simple and highly efcient apparatus for supplying water to the upper floors of buildings whenever `the city presf sure falls below that required for furnishing water at these places. e Another object is to provide apparatus forconstantly supplying water to all floors in the building regardless of the city pressure. Another object is to provide a pneumaticwaterl supply vsystem wherein the pressure is obtained with the use of a fluid displacement pump employing a liquidpiston transferable from one tank into another and operatingthereby to compress the air. y,

With these and other `objects and advantages in'view, this invention consists in a pneumatic water supply system having a res-l ervoir for storing water under pressure rand a fluid displacement pump employing a liquid piston transferable from one tank or receptacle into another, and thereby compressing the air in the system.v y

It further consists in a system .as above set forth in which the liquid piston usedcreates pressure on the water which enters Into the reservoir. It further consists 1n a system as above described which is entirelyw automatic in operation. It further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. e I

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawing accompanying this specification, in

which the figure is a diagrammatic view,

partly in side elevation and. partly in vertical longitudinal section, illustrating a simple embodiment of theinvention Referringk to Vsaid drawing, the reference character 2 designates the water supply pipe', which'forms a continuation of the City service water pipe, andv 3 designates a fragment ofthe water delivery pipe of the building,

whichpipe leads tothe several floors thereof and has branches on which are the faucets and other outlets, asis well understood. The water supply pipe 2 discharges into the tank 4 of `a fluid displacement pump 5.

As shown in the drawing accompanying this specification, the fluid displacement pump has an upper tank 6 and the lower tank 4, above referred to, yand a centrifugal or other water pump 7 for transferring the liquid from the lower tank `into the upper one at intervals. The inlet side of the water pump 7 is connected to thelower tank a by. an inlet conduit 8 and the discharge side ofthe pump is .connected to the upper tank 6 by a discharge conduit 8a. .The waterv pump is driven by a suitable motor, here shown in the form of an electric lmotor. 9, which is controlled from apressure switch, as will be hereinafter fully set forth. n

Leading frornthe lower tank 4 to the upper end 'of the upper tank 6 is an air conduit 10` having an outwardly opening check valve 11 thereon. It willbe observed that as the liquid in the lower tank 11 rises therein, the air will'be discharged from the lower tank 4 through thev pipe 10 land into the upper tank 6. i An inlet having an inwardly lopening check valve 12 in the lower tank permits ratmospheric air `to enter the lower tank whenever the level of the liquid therein falls. valve controlled port or other passageway 13 connects the two tanks 4 and 6l andpermits liquid in theupper tank to How into the lower tank whenever kthe valve for said'port is opened. i ,e The valve 14 whichcontrols the port 18 is operated by lfloat mechanism-comprising a float 1 5 .contained'in the lower tank l and operating a lfloat'rod 16, here shown'as connected to the valve 1e by alever 17 ful;v Crumed upon a suitable support in the upper tank. Where the float rod extends throughthe kwall between the two tanks 4C and 6,'l a stufling `box` 18 is provided around f the rod to prevent leakagebetween the two tanks. A lost motion connection is pro. vided between the float 15 and float rod 16, so that the valve 14C may remain'V open or closed until the fioat aproaches its limits of movement, and, as here shown, shoulders 19 and 20 are provided on vthe 'float rod above andpbelow the float and adapted to bey engaged thereby, and the float is shown ,as formedwith a central passage through which the float rod extends.

Inasmuch as itis preferable to use a port 13 of relatively small diameter, it is advisable to close the discharge conduit 8a from the water pump while the port 13 is open and, for this reason, a valve 2l may be provided at the discharge end of the conduit 8a for controlling the passage through said discharge end, said valve 21 being connected to an arm 22 of the floatoperated lever 17.by a link 23. Wien the valve 14 is closed, the valve 21 remains open, thereby permitting the water Y pump to transfer liquid from the tank 4 into the tank 6, but whenever the valve 14 is opened to permit the liquid in the upper tank 6 to'k discharge into the lower tank 4, then the valve 21 is closed, thereby preventing the pump from discharging any more liquid into the upper tank until substantially all of the li'quid in the upper tank has been discharged into the lower one.

Leading from the Huid displacement pump 4 is a combined air" and water conduit 24 through which air and liquid may be discharged from the iuid displacement pump and into a reservoir 25 associated with said fluid displacement pump and adapted to store water, or other liquid, under pressure. A check valve 24a on the conduit 24 controls the passage therethrough. The water delivery pipe 3, heretofore referred to, leads from'the lower end of the reservoir 25 and conducts the water from the reservoir to the branch pipes and faucets or other outlets.

Under normal conditions of the city wa'- ter pressure, water enters the lower tank 4 through the discharge end of the water supply pipe 2 and rises therein lling the lower tank 4 and thereafter filling the upper tank 6 from which it flows through the conduit 24 and into the reservoir 25. So long as the city pressure remains high enough, water will be available at any of thefaucets or other outlets connected to the deliveryv pipe 3, bu't when the city pressure falls below normal, then water will not be forced high enough to be available at the upper floors, and under such circumstances, the present system becomes operative for furnishing the pressure necessary to force the water up to the higher floors.

Y In order to facilitate theioperation` of the fluid displacement pump, a valve 26is provided in the water supply pipe 2, which Vvalve ris controlled by floatmechanism contained in the reservoir 25. In'the lform of the invention shown, a fioat 27 is provided upon a float rod 28, which float rod is fulcrumed at a place adjacent the valve 26 and isconnected to the lever 29 of the valve 26 by a link 30. The arrangement of the valve and float mechanism, just described, is such that when the fioat 27 reaches its lower limit of movement, the valve 26 is open, and when the float reaches its upper limit of necessary pressure in the reservoir 25 tov deliver water at any of the higher floors.

if desired, an air vent 31 may be provided in the reservoir 25, which air vent is con-- trolled by a valve 32 connected to the float rod 28 by a valve stem 33 having a lost motion connection. with said float rod. The purpose of the air vent is to permit the pressure in the reservoir 25 to be lowered in case the water therein falls to an abnormally low level and in case the pressure in the tank 25 remains above that required to start the pump motor.

For automatically controlling the operation of the water pump, avpressure'switch 34 is connected to the reservoir 25 and is interposed in the electric circuit for the pump motor, the wiring lof said circuit being indicated at 35; The pressure switch 34 shown is of the ordinary conventional form and is set to open the switch for the circuit when the pressure in the reservoir reaches a predetermined amount, and thereby stop the pump motor, and to close the switch for the circuit when the pressure in the reservoir falls to a predetermined low point, whereby suiiicient pressure is always maintained in the reservoir (irrespective of variations of pressurefin the city main) to thereby raise the column of water in the pipe 3 to the several faucets or other outlets located at the highest places in theV building.

fny the operation of the apparatus, vand with the parts occupying the positions indicated in the drawing,water flows through vhe lwater. supply pipe 2 and into the lower tank 4, and assuming that the pressure in the tank 25 is below normal, the circuit to the motorvis therefore closed by the pressure switch and the motor 9 and pump 7 are in operation. Water is therefore being transferred from the lower tank 4 into the upper tank 6 by a water pump 7, and if the water is being discharged from the lower tank 4 asfast as it enters the same from the supply pipe 2, the upper tank becomes filled and the water discharges through the pipe 24 into the reservoir 25.

As the level of the water inthe reservoir 25 rises, the fioat 27 is moved upward and finally closes the valve 26, thereby shutting off the water supply pipe 2. The water pump continues to transfer water from the lower tank into the upper. one until the float 15 reaches its lowerv limit of movement, whereupon it opens the valve 14 and closes the valve 21, thereby permitting water contained inthe upper tank 6 to flowthrough I the port 14 and return tothe tank`4. Asl

pied by the body of water therein. f

the water dischargesfrom' the upper tank into the lower tank, air contained in the lower tank is forced up through the air conduit 10 into the upper end of the upportank l(i, thereby filling the space formerly occu- When the level of the water inthe lower tank 4 reaches an upper limit (thereby raising the float 15 to its upper limit), thefloat closes the valve 14 and opens the valve 21, whereupon the 'water' pump again operates to transfer water from the lower tank 4 into the upper one, and as the level of the water in the lowertank falls, it creates a partial vacuum therein whereby atmospheric air enters through the air inlet and check valve 12. As the level of the water in the upper tank rises, the air contained in said upper tank 6 is discharged through the conduit 24 into the reservoir 25.V

The water contained in the tanks 4 and 6 is transferred intermittently, as above described, until sufficient pressure is built upk in the reservoir to operate the pressure switch 34 and thereby break the circuit to the pump motor. The pressure in thereservoir being suliicient, Vwater is available at any of the faucets or other outlets at any of the floors of the building, and when enough water has been drawn out of the reservoir 25 to lower the float 27 sufficiently, the valve 26 is again opened and water is admitted to the apparatus. At this timek if the pressure in the reservoir 25 has reached a predetermined low level, the ypump will be started again, and if not, the city pressure is sufficient to replenish the water withdrawn from the reservoir and supply water at the faucets or other outlets in the several floors of the building.

, More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention. I

desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent: f i

l. In a pneumatic water supply system,

the combination with a fluid displacementV pump employing tanks for receiving water and air, a liquid piston transferable from one tank to another and operating to displace air contained in the tanks and a water pump for transferring the liquid from one tank to the other, said fluid displacement pump being connected to a water supply pipe and having a valve controlled air inlet,

of a reservoir into whichl said fluid ydisplacement pump discharges waterfand air under pressure, said reservoir being connected to a water delivery pipe.

the combination with a fluid displacement pump embodying a liquid piston transferable from one tank to anotherV and operating to displace air contained in the tanks, andk arr electric motor driven centrifugal pump for transferring the liquidfrom one tank tothe other, said fluid displacement pump being connected to a source of water supply and,` having a valve controlled air inlet,l of a reservoir intoV which said uid displacement pump discharges ,water and air under pressure, said reservoir being connected to a water delivery pipe, and a pressure switch for the electric motor of the centrifugal pump responsive to the variations of pressure in the reservoir.

3..In`a pneumatic ywater supply system, the combination with a fluid displacement pump 'employing tanks, a liquid Apiston transferable from one tankto another and ,operating to displace airl contained in `the tanks and a water pump for transferring the liquid from one tank to the other, said fluid ,Y displacement lpump being connected to a water supply'pipe, of a reservoir into lwhich said, fluid 'displacement' pump 'discharges' water Vand air under pressure, said reservoir being connected to a `water delivery pipe, automatic means responsiveto variations of pressure in the reservoir for starting andstoppingvthe water, pump, and a pipehaving its float contained4 in the reservoir. Y

4. In a vpneumatic water supplyy system,

ythe combination of alluid displacement pump employing upper and lower tanks', a

liquid piston Vtransferable from one tank to another.V and operating'to displace air there- '1n,`"a waterpump having its inletv end conthe combination vof a-fluid displacement pump employing upper yand lower tanks, a liquid piston'transferable from one tank to another and operating to displace air therei in, an electric motor driven centrifugal water pump having its inlet end connected to the'lower tank and` its discharge end connected to'the upper tank, a float controlled water portbetween 'said tanks, and a check valve controlledair vconduit between said tanks, said fluid displacement pump being connectedk ytoa lwater supply pipe-and havfloat 'controlled valve onvsaid Water supply f ing va check -valve controlled vair and water discharge conduit, a reservoir into which said air andwater discharge'conduit opens, said reservoir having a water delivery pipe leading therefrom, and automatic'means for vgal water pump having its inlet end connected to thelower tank and its discharge end connected to the upper tank, a float controlled water port between said tanks, and

a. check valve controlled air conduit between said tanks, said rfluid displacement pump 4being connected to a water supply pipe and y having a check valve controlled air and water discharge conduit, a reservoir into ,which saidair and water discharge conduit opens, said reservoir having a water delivery pipe leading therefrom, and a pressure switch for starting and stopping the electric motor of the pump,`said pressure switch being connected to the'reservoir and responsive to variations offpressure therein.

7. In a pneumatic water supply system,

the combination of a fluid displacement pump employing upper and lower tanks, a liquid piston transferable from oney tank to another and operating to displace air therein, a water pump having its inlet end connected to the lower tank and its discharge end to the upper tank, a float controlled water port between said tanks and the check valve controlled air conduit between said tanks, said fluid displacement pump being connected to a water supply pipe and having a check valve controlled air and water discharge conduit, a reservoir into which said discharge conduit opens, said reservoir having a water delivery pipe leading therefrom, and a float controlled valve on said water' supply pipe, the iioat of said valve being located in the reservoir.

S. In a pneumatic water supply system, the combination with al fluid displacement pump employing tanks, a liquid piston transferable from one tank to the other and operating to displace air contained. inthe tanks, a water pump for transferring the liquid from one tank to the other, and a water supply pipe discharging into said fluid displacement pump, of a reservoir into which said fluid displacement pump discharges'water and air under pressure, said lreservoir being connected to a water delivery pipe, and a float controlled air vent for said reservoir. l

V9. Ina pneumatic liquid supply system, Y

the combination `.with aa Vfluid displacement pumpl employing tanks, a liquid piston transferable from one tankto another and operating to displace compressible iluid contained in the tanks, .and a pump for transferring the liquid from one tank tothe other, said fluid displacement pump being connected to a liquid supply pipe and having a valve controlled compressible fluid inlet pipe, of a reservoir into which said iiuid displacement pump discharges liquid `and compressible fluid under pressure, said reservoir being connected to a liquid delivery pipe.

AEDWARD F. MCC'ARTHY. 

